Nitazenes: toxicologists warn of rise in overdoses linked to class of synthetic opioids

Toxicologists have warned of a sharp rise in drug overdose deaths in England involving a group of potent synthetic opioids called nitazenes.

Nitazenes have been found as contaminants in street heroin and cocaine as well as black market vaping liquids and fake prescription drugs purchased online. New forms of nitazenes are emerging with one thought to be more than 300 times more potent than morphine and 45 times more than fentanyl.

The Toxicology Unit at Imperial College, London, conducts toxicology analysis on behalf of coroners in London and Suffolk, …